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What happens when you try to force the fluid, organic soul of 18th-century French Baroque artwork onto the flat geometry of a modern lever-action rifle? You get a messy, chaotic, but ultimately rewarding digital wrestling match. Read the full step-by-step breakdown of how I used generative AI, Adobe Illustrator, and precise Cerakote laser settings to bring the hunting motifs of master designer De la Collombe to life on a modern Rossi receiver.

By the 17th century, gun engraving designs were no longer being adapted from other trades, they were starting to be designed specifically for the firearm. In Part 3, we follow how French pattern books shaped the style of gun engraving across Europe, and how those designs began to show up from one workshop to the next.

Gun engraving didn’t start on guns. In Part 2, we follow how Renaissance pattern books influenced early firearm engraving, as scrollwork and classical designs made their way from paper onto steel.

If you’ve opened the box on a new HK pistol recently and wondered where the rear night sights went, you’re not alone. Many modern HK pistols now ship with a tritium front sight and a plain rear. In this article we take a look at why HK made the change, whether rear night sights still matter, and how shooters can still get the classic three-dot HK night sight setup.

Part 1 of a 5 part series exploring the history and evolution of engraving scrollwork on firearms. In this part we start in 16th Century Europe, and visualize the transition from engraving armor to engraving matchlock and flintlock pistols.

If you wait until the dog days of summer, when the birds are already starting their journey south, prices have usually climbed and inventory has thinned out. By the time you’ve planned your fall hunting trip and started packing, you’re out of time to practice and learn the ins and outs of your new tools. While the fields are quiet and the dog is shedding its winter coat, spring is the smart time for hunters to take a hard look at their gear. Give yourself time to decide: Maki